Mac Nisse of Connor
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Saint Mac NisseMac Nissi, Macnise, Macnissi; also in Latin, Macanisius, Macnisius. (died 514) was an early Irish saint known as the founder and first bishop-abbot of Connor (Irish: Condere, in what is now Co. Antrim).
Life
Hagiographers say he was son of Fáebrach, son of Erc, who probably belonged to the Dál Fiatach.[https://www.dib.ie/biography/mac-nisse-a5080 Breen, Aidan. "Mac Nisse", Dictionary of Irish Biography, October 2009] His mother was Ness.
His story as known is largely legendary[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=145 St. Angus MacNisse - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online] He was baptized by Saint Patrick who taught him the psalms.[https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-mac-nissi-died-c-514-monk-and-bishop/ Duffy, Patrick. "Sep 4 – St Mac Nissi (died c. 514) monk and bishop", Catholic Ireland, September 4, 2012] He then took the additional name of Óengus. Mac Nisse was fostered with Patrick's disciple Olcán, Bishop of Armoy. The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick says that as the political support of Dal Riata gained in Scotland, but waned in Ireland, the lands attached to Armoy were seized and regranted to Mac Nisse and Senán "of Inis Cathaig" (probably for Senán of Láthrach Briúin).Charles-Edwards, "Ulster, saints of (act. c.400–c.650)"
Oengus Mac Nisse is thought to have been a hermit near Kells earlier in his life.[http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/ireland/witness/q3.html Simms, George Otto. Among the Cloud of Witnesses: Notes and suggested prayers for commemorations of worthies of the Irish Church, Church of Ireland, 1994]
There were three Irish abbeys/monasteries by this name.
References
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=Primary sources=
- Tripartite Life of St Patrick
- Félire Óengusso
- Annals of Ulster
- Life of St. Nisse (Codex Salmanticensis), ed. W.W. Heist, Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae ex codice olim Salmanticensi nunc Bruxellensi. Brussels, 1965. p. 406. Short, late homily for the saint's festival (3 September) at Connor.
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Category:6th-century Irish bishops
Category:6th-century Christian saints
Category:Medieval saints of Ulster
Category:People from County Meath